Improvement in platings for vessels



J. McLAUGHLIN.

Platings for Vessels.

Patented Sept. 15,1874.

THE GRAPHIC CO FHOTD-LITHJSS: 4| PARK PLADELNPL UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN PLATINGS FOR VESSELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,955, dated September 15, 1874; application filed February 26, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MOLAUGHLIN, of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented an-Improvement in Armor-Plating Ships, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to the attachment of armor to ordinary ships, in such a manner that neither bolts nor rivets are required for the attachment of the plates, and that the re sistance of said plates to shot will be greatly increased by the interposition of a number of springs between said plates and the sides of the ship the object of my invention bein gto enable ordinary ships to be fitted up with a light armor that will ofi'er far greater resistance to shot than armor of the same thickness attached to ships in the ordinary manner.

Figure l is a side elevation of the hull of a ship embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section 011 the line 00 w.

A is the hull of a ship, to the sides of which a number of brackets, B, are firmly secured in a vertical position, and at equal distances from each other, or nearly so. The outer edges of these brackets are formed with projections to a on each side, with sloping faces I), so that if said brackets are hit by a shot the latter would glance off and have but little efl'ect on the brackets. Armor-plates O, of a size to pass snugly between the brackets B, and extend from the top of the bulwarks to a certain distance below the water-line, are arranged all around the side of the ship, and

are held in place by the projections a a on the brackets B, and by the upper portion of said plates being bent over the bulwarks. One or more armor-plates may be placed between every set of brackets, to obtain the necessary thickness of armor. D are springs fastened to the sides of the ship, and so arranged as to bear against the inner surface of the armorplates, forcing the latter outward against the projections a a of the brackets B, whereby said armorplates are firmly locked, and their resistance when struck by shot is greater than if the armor were secured directly to thesides of the ship. These springs may be constructed of rubber or steel, or both, and their number and strength will depend on the size of armor.

By these means any ordinary vessel or ship can be easily fitted up for war purposes.

The objectionable use of bolts or rivets in securing armor-plates to the sides of the ship is entirely dispensed with, and a comparatively light armor is able to resist the efifects of shot which would penetrate a much heavier armor of any construction heretofore made.

NVhat I claim as my invention is- In a ship of any ordinary construction,the combination of the armor-plates G, springs D, and brackets B, substantially as herein described, and for the purpose set forth.

J OHL MOLAUGHLIN. 

